Indiana House Bill 1354 was read on January 18th 2011. The bill as proposed would require INDOT to include “complete streets” guidelines into INDOT’s approved design manual. A summary of the bill, along with it’s travel through the legislature, can be read here.
When I first read about this, I pumped my fist in the air. Finally, someone has gotten to the lawmakers and a plan is in place to start moving forward in a progressive fashion. However, upon further examination, it appears that there may be a gaping loophole in the middle of the bill. There are stipulations that allow...

I met my wife in late 2006. We got to know each other quicky and before long, I had asked her to marry me. I met a woman who likes to travel. A LOT! So when it came to planning our wedding, travel was incorporated. Sure, people travel for their honeymoon, but for their wedding?
Our best laid plan eventually landed us in Italy where we were married in June of 2008 in the Tuscany region just south of Firenze (Florence). At that time, I was not as psychotic about sustainable transportation as I am today, however, I was still smart enough to know that driving in Europe is expensive, difficult and at...

This article originally appeared on urbanOut.
Richard Longworth’s recent article A New Year for the Midwest is particularly interesting as he dissects what 2011 may bring for many of the Midwest’s rust belt cities and their ailing economies. While discussing the region’s antiquated manufacturing base and the need for cities to reinvent themselves around a modern economy, Longworth notes: “A history of heavy industry is a handicap in dealing with the modern global economy, but it’s not necessarily fatal. What is fatal, however, is sticking with that heavy industry to the exclusion of...

Welcome to the first installment of the Indianapolis Construction Roundup. My goal with this series is to provide regular updates — on a monthly or perhaps bi-monthly basis — on significant construction projects happening around downtown Indianapolis. If available, I will include photos and renderings for selected projects. For convenience, the names of each project link to Google Maps, showing the location of that project. For this initial posting, I’ve included a small amount of background information for each project, but that will only be included in the future as projects are...

After 3 years of planning and delays, Indianapolis’ first food Co-op is up and running near the corner of 10th and Rural. The store’s major goal is to bring fresh and local produce to the neighborhood, but they also provide bulk and higher-end processed foods to appeal to a city-wide clientele.
Pogues Run is collaborating with Made For Each Other, located in a store front across 10th Street. The art project uses recycled boxes in a clever way. The Methodist Center mentioned in the picture below was recently featured in Time Magazine as an innovative project for youths to be involved in...